How to Carry Vespa Scooter on 2014 Jeep Compass

Updated 06/27/2020 | Published 06/26/2020

Products Featured in This Question

19x59 Curt Cargo Carrier for 2" Hitches - Steel - Folding - 500 lbs

(1154)

$165.27

Erickson Ratcheting Motorcycle Tie-Down Straps w Safety Hooks - 1"x 6' - 400 lb - Qty 2

(39)

$16.59

Question:

Would this carrier c18109 work for hauling a 250# Vespa lx 150 with an added wheel chock and ramp driving a 2014 Jeep Compass with a 2000# trailer capacity and a 4000# Class III hitch capacity?

asked by: David

Expert Reply:

The Curt cargo carrier, part # C18109 would be suitable for carrying that amount of weight, but it's not recommended that a scooter such as a Vespa be carried on it. A scooter like your Vespa has a very strong weight bias to the rear. These carriers are meant to have the weight evenly distributed from side to side, and having more than 2/3 of the weight concentrated on one side of the carrier's center point will place torquing forces on that carrier as well as the hitch that would cause one or the other to fail. Which would be bad.

What you want to use is a dedicated bike carrier like # e98873 and arrange the Vespa on it so that it's pushed all the way to one side to get the motor as close as possible to the center. The carrier includes a ramp, but you'll need some ratchet straps like # EM05710, and using 4 straps is recommended. I've linked you to a product demonstration video for the carrier I recommended.

expert reply by: Mike L